THE Chevrolet Warriors and Nashua Cape Cobras are both waiting on the fitness of key fast bowlers as they look to finalise their teams for Friday’s Momentum One-Day Cup match at St. George’s Park.

While the Warriors are hoping that Rusty Theron will overcome his knee problem to lead their attack, the Cobras expect Mthokozisi Shezi to make his debut.

The Cobras were forced into a late change when Shezi suffered back spasms ahead of their game against the Chevrolet Knights, but the left-armer appears to have recovered fully.Theron, however, has struggled with his knee injury for several weeks, feeling pain-free one day only to see it swell up the next day.The Warriors will, therefore, wait to hear about his availability, and will also make a decision on the balance of their side based on conditions.Captain Colin Ingram took the wicketkeeping gloves in Sunday’s clash with the bizhub Highveld Lions, but may be relieved of those duties over the weekend.

“We were looking to play a four-prong seam attack, and the only way we could do that was if I took the gloves,” explained Ingram.

“But our next two games are in Port Elizabeth and Pietermaritzburg where the pitches tend to be slower, so we may get away with just playing three seamers.”While the Warriors have lost all three games that they have played so far this season, Cobras skipper Justin Ontong remains cautious.“We had a good outing against the Knights but we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves,” he said. “Although the Warriors haven’t had a great start to the season, they’re always a dangerous team in this format.”

All-rounder Justin Kemp, off-spinner Dane Piedt and seamer Beuran Hendricks remain sidelined, with Kemp expected back in a couple of weeks but Hendricks unlikely to return until December.Michael Owen-Smith